DRIVE AWAY PRICE

$68,900

BASIC SPEC

Mercedes-Benz C450 AMG 4Matic revealed

Mercedes-Benz's AMG performance car division has revealed the second in a range of new four-wheel drive sport models at the Detroit motor show in the form of the new C450 AMG 4Matic.

Following on from the recently revealed CLE450 Coupe AMG 4Matic, the new model will be sold in both sedan and wagon bodystyles from early 2016, slotting into the existing Mercedes-Benz line-up between the new C350 Plug-In Hybrid and soon-to-be-launched C63 AMG at a price that is expected to pitch it into direct competition with the $105,000 Audi S4 and $93,430 BMW 335i M Sport.

Power for the C450 AMG 4Matic hails from a tuned version of Mercedes-Benz's twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 direct injection petrol engine running added boost pressure among other unspecified performance enhancements developed by AMG engineers.

As in the recently announced GLE63 Coupe AMG 4Matic also on show for the first time in Detroit this week, the 90-degree unit delivers 270kW at 5500rpm and 520Nm torque between 2000 and 4200rpm.

Drive is channeled through a reworked version of Mercedes-Benz's seven-speed 7G-Tronic automatic gearbox boasting software mapping and other tweaks from AMG's more highly developed seven-speed 7G-Tronic SpeedShift unit – as used on the new C63 AMG.

It is allied to Mercedes-Benz's 4Matic four-wheel drive system, providing the C450 AMG 4Matic sedan with a claimed 0-100km/h time of 4.9sec (wagon 5.0sec) and electronically limited 250km/h top speed. Despite the heady performance potential, AMG says its new model returns an impressive 7.6L/100km (wagon 7.7L/100km) on the combined cycle, endowing it with average CO2 emissions of 178g/km (wagon 180g/km).

The latest AMG model is underpinned by a chassis that shares various components and elastokinematic properties with that of the C63 AMG. Among the changes over the standard C-class are revised front pull rods, a modified front axle carrier, adjustable three stage dampers, new load bearing joints, modified steering knuckles, additional negative camber and firmer springs.

The 4Matic four-wheel drive system has been modified by AMG to provide a nominal 33:67 front-to-rear apportioning of drive, while the electronic stability program has been recalibrated with unique properties for what Mercedes-Benz describes as "more sporting driving qualities than standard C-Class models".

Further changes have been focused on the steering and brake system – the latter of which uses upgraded 360mm front and 320mm rear ventilated steel discs with grey coloured brake calipers as standard.